Raj Kapoor marks his 100th birth anniversary on December 14, 2024. He was known as Hindi cinema's 'Showman' and considered the late legendary singer, Lata Mangeshkar his muse. Their musical association started in 1949 and went on to the film Henna, which was left incomplete by RK in 1991 as he had passed away. Lata Mangeshkar once spoke about her old association with Raj Kapoor in an interview with Times Now Digital.
From Hawa Mein Udta Jaye to Chitthiye, Lata and RK have given Hindi cinema evergreen songs together. Lata Ji's association with Raj Kapoor goes back to when he was working on his second directorial venture called Barsaat. She revealed that she had not taken singing as a professional career when she started working with RK. In an earlier interview with Times Now Digital, Lata had said:
"When Raj Saab directed his first film Aag I was still acting in films. I hadn't taken up singing as a full-fledged profession. I sang for his second film Barsaat, and there was no looking back."
In the same interview, Lata said that Raj Saab's work was unique. With him around, there were unexpected adventures in the recording studio. Being a musician himself, he knew exactly what he wanted. Sometimes, he'd change a whole tune at the last moment. When he wanted a hit song he'd say he wanted a poppatiya song. However, the duo also had a fall-out, and Raj Kapoor had blamed Lata, for the failure of Mera Naam Joker. This was because she was absent from the musical tracks.
According to Times Now Digital, Lata had revealed that composer Anil Biswas had spoken to Raj Saab about her. He invited Raj Kapoor over to Raj Kamal studios to hear her sing. She even remembered the song which was Baras baras badli bhi nikhar gayi kab aaoge? The late Nightingale had mentioned:
"I even remember the song. It was Baras baras badli bhi nikhar gayi kab aaoge. Raj Saab came and heard me quietly from a corner and left just as quietly. One day , a representative of Raj Saab came to me with a message saying he wanted to meet me. Later, I came to know the messenger was none other than composer Jaikishan."
Further, Lata, in the audio released by Times Now Digital, said that she was a great fan of Prithiviraj Kapoor Saab. The fact that Raj Saab was his son impressed her immediately. Ram Ganguly, who had done the music in Aag was supposed to compose the songs for Barsaat. But Raj Saab opted for Ram Ganguly's assistants, Shankar and Jaikishan. Lata remembered her first recording for Barsaat and said:
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"I remember the first song I recorded in Barsaat was Jiya beqaraar hai. At first, Raj Saab was apprehensive about my classical antecedents. But after I recorded for him his reservations vanished In Barsaat I ended up singing for all the female characters."
Here's remembering Raj Kapoor on his 100th birth centenary. Don't you think Lata Mangeshkar and RK had a brilliant association?
Also Read: Boney Kapoor Says Raj Kapoor Quit Alcohol Post Mera Naam Joker's Initial Flop, 'Person So Fond Of..'
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